Place Name Help

[Peter Rourke]

In the UK 1881 Census my ggrandfather's place of birth is listed as "ROSCOMMON, IRELAND". In the 1891 census the place of birth is listed as "GORGCLOSS, IRELAND".<br> In the 1891 Census my grandmother's place of birth is listed as "BALLYFENI, IRELAND", and this place name/spelling is repeated in an old family bible. There is some oral family tradition that says she heralded from "BALLYMEARY, STOKESTOWN".<p> I know that theseancestors were uneducated, illiterate persons so these listings can only be the census enumertor's phonetic spelling of a verbal response. I have searched various Ireland Gazetteers but have been unable to find these places or any close alternative spellings.<p> I would appreciate any help that anyone can give in identifying or suggesting possble alternatives to identify these places.
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prourke@vanisle.net

[Liam Kelly]

: In the UK 1881 Census my ggrandfather's place of birth is listed as "ROSCOMMON, IRELAND". In the 1891 census the place of birth is listed as "GORGCLOSS, IRELAND".: In the 1891 Census my grandmother's place of birth is listed as "BALLYFENI, IRELAND", and this place name/spelling is repeated in an old family bible. There is some oral family tradition that says she heralded from "BALLYMEARY, STOKESTOWN".Peter - It is highly probable that your grandmother's place of birth could be BALLYFEENEY - Would you have her christian name so I can "run it up the flagpole" in the strokestown area.RegardsLiam Kelly: I know that theseancestors were uneducated, illiterate persons so these listings can only be the census enumertor's phonetic spelling of a verbal response. I have searched various Ireland Gazetteers but have been unable to find these places or any close alternative spellings.: I would appreciate any help that anyone can give in identifying or suggesting possble alternatives to identify these places.

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ibeautyj@iol.ie

[John O'Beirne]

<br>: : In the UK 1881 Census my ggrandfather's place of birth is listed as "ROSCOMMON, IRELAND". In the 1891 census the place of birth is listed as "GORGCLOSS, IRELAND".: In the 1891 Census my grandmother's place of birth is listed as "BALLYFENI, IRELAND", and this place name/spelling is repeated in an old family bible. There is some oral family tradition that says she heralded from "BALLYMEARY, STOKESTOWN".Peter - It is highly probable that your grandmother's place of birth could be BALLYFEENEY - Would you have her christian name so I can "run it up the flagpole" in the strokestown area.RegardsLiam Kelly: I know that theseancestors were uneducated, illiterate persons so these listings can only be the census enumertor's phonetic spelling of a verbal response. I have searched various Ireland Gazetteers but have been unable to find these places or any close alternative spellings.: I would appreciate any help that anyone can give in identifying or suggesting possble alternatives to identify these places.<br>I agree with Liam re Ballyfeeney, then in the parish of Bumlin. Your other townland may well be Gorttoose, also in the parish of Bumlin. There was an archeological dig there last year looking at 18th C. houses in a "Clachan." Dig was conducted by the Univ. of Missouri.<br>
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[Peter Rourke]

Many thanks for your information John and Liam. Sorry, but I did not make clear in my request that I was referring totwo different sides of the family ancestors. My maternal grandmother MARGARET McLOUGHLIN daughter of JAMES 7 MARGARET MCLOUGHLIN was born at BALLYFEENIE (?) on 14February 1862. Do I understand that Ballyfeenie is 'within' thw Strokestown area? If so that is a wonderful leap forward for me. <br>My paternal ggrandfather MICHAEL ROURKE was born in 1812 at Gorgcloss, Roscommon, Ireland. Any suggestions for this location.<br>Thanks once again. If I can offer any reciprocal help in the Victoria BC Canada area please don't hesitate to call.<p>Regards<p>Peter Rourke<p>Researching Rourke, McLoughlin, Woods and Hawley from the Durham area in late 1800's<br>
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prourke@vanisle.net

[Kathy Clare]

: Many thanks for your information John and Liam. Sorry, but I did not make clear in my request that I was referring totwo different sides of the family ancestors. My maternal grandmother MARGARET McLOUGHLIN daughter of JAMES 7 MARGARET MCLOUGHLIN was born at BALLYFEENIE (?) on 14February 1862. Do I understand that Ballyfeenie is 'within' thw Strokestown area? If so that is a wonderful leap forward for me. <br>: My paternal ggrandfather MICHAEL ROURKE was born in 1812 at Gorgcloss, Roscommon, Ireland. Any suggestions for this location.<br>: Thanks once again. If I can offer any reciprocal help in the Victoria BC Canada area please don't hesitate to call.<p>: Regards<p>: Peter Rourke<p>: Researching Rourke, McLoughlin, Woods and Hawley from the Durham area in late 1800's<br>While on the subject of place names!! Please help!!! I am coming up with dead ends researching ancestors . I cannot find listed anywhere the Townland of Cattan which is the homeplace of my grandparents near Carrick-on-Shannon in Co. Leitrim. Does anyone know how to access a lit of Townlands (I hear there are about 40,000 of them as they average 350 acres each)? Another place I am having difficulty with finding in the written form is "Uskerty" near Castlecomer in Co. Kilkenny. I am researching the Maher family in that area and the Tiernan and O'Neill family in Leitrim.<br>Thanks for anything you can find.<br>

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gclare@sprint.ca